Now Until Forever

by Karen White-Owens

  Moaning, he muttered, “There’s a possibility.”

  “Maybe,” she uttered softly, moving to his ear. She traced the shell pattern with her tongue.

  “Aren’t you amorous, Mrs. Mitchell?” He swept a hand gently over the curve of her ear.

  The soft caress caused Ryan to shiver with delight. “No, Mr. Southhall. Just horny.”

  “Well, we need to do something about that.” Smiling up at her, Keir ran a finger across her moist bottom lip. “I aim to give you everything you need while we’re in Hawaii.”

  “How about a few of my wants.” She feathered light kisses along his neck.

  Keir stroked her breasts, asking, “Anything in particular?”

  “You.”

  “Anytime. Anyplace,” he answered, slightly panting.

  “Good. I agree with that sentiment one hundred percent. I don’t think you need this anymore.” Ryan pulled the shirt from his slacks, removed it, and tossed it on the floor. She fumbled with his belt, undid the buckle, and lowered the zipper. A budge filled the front of his briefs. Ryan ran a finger along his stiff ridge, teasing, “Is this part of the welcome wagon?”

  Keir’s eyes drifted shut while he swayed to the movements of her hand and moaned softly. “Oh yeah. All for you.”

  Not satisfied, Ryan reached inside the slit in his briefs and freed his throbbing erection. She ran fingers up and down the soft skin, fascinated by the way he felt. Craving more, she took his lips in a fury of tiny kisses as her hand stroked his rigid flesh, enjoying the feel of hard steel covered by warm, pulsating flesh.

  Keir sucked in his breath. Ryan gave his hot, slick, and pulsating erection a few quick strokes, wishing he was inside her.

  After a moment of this exquisite torture, she took a step back, quickly removing her clothes, adding them to the heap. Bare of everything except her bra and panties, she returned to his embrace.

  “Do you mind?” he asked as he popped the front tab on her bra.

  “Be my guest,” she responded, watching as he did the honors. He removed the bra and worked her panties down her hips and off her body. She kicked them into the growing pile of clothes and then helped him out of his briefs and reached for her purse. Ryan removed a condom, tore it open with her teeth, and rolled it onto him.

  Ryan quickly offered the man a tantalizing brown nipple. Keir circled it with the tip of his tongue, leaning back to examine his handiwork. Smiling, he blew on the bud, causing it to harden, before focusing on the other breast. He sucked on the hard pebble as if he were receiving nourishment, while continuing to stroke the other. The heavenly sensation increased the ache and wetness between her legs.

  After several minutes of this torture, Keir wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. “Come on, baby. Let’s take a ride,” he whispered. With his hands on her hips, he guided her onto his pulsating flesh. Inch by inch she took him into her greedy passage until he filled her completely.

  Moaning softly, Ryan rose and slid back down on him. Her eyes shut as she experienced the feeling of having him fill her. Keir guided her, with his hands on her hips, as she moved up and down on his thick shaft.

  With her hands on his shoulders to steady herself, Ryan rode him hard and long, moaning and sighing at the tantalizing feelings. Her eyes rolled back, and a groan escaped her as she enjoyed the exquisite sensations.

  Panting, Ryan grunted, “Ohmigod, Keir! This feels perfect!”

  “Yeah, it does.” He thrusted upward, meeting her movements so he was deeply sheathed within her.

  Keir’s breath came in hot gushes as he locked her within his embrace and rose from the chair. Bodies connected, he swirled around and pinned her small frame against the desk beneath him. The telephone, notepad, and pen dug into her skin. She didn’t care. She needed, wanted, all of him inside her.

  Frantically, he pumped into her, rocking his hips against hers as he buried himself in her over and over. Her muscles worked, clenching and releasing, as he plunged and pulled back.

  Trembling, Ryan arched her back, taking him as far into her body as possible. She shuddered as completion flowed through her in waves of heat and pleasure. A second later, Keir tightened his hold on her, went stiff, and arched, crying out her name. His hot seed spurted.

  Together, they floated back to earth. Keir recovered first, tenderly kissing her on the lips. “Well, Mrs. Mitchell, that was wonderful. Want to try it on the floor?”

  Fighting to catch her breath, she panted, “Anytime, anyplace.”

  Chapter 14

  Hand in hand, Ryan and Keir took a leisurely stroll through downtown shopping district on the island of Maui. After a quick plane hop from the big island to Maui, they had boarded a bus for a spin to the island’s highest point to visit an active volcano. A thick coat of ash had floated through the air as their driver drove higher into the mountains. Their tour guide had retold the tale of misfortune awaiting anyone with the courage or gall to smuggle away a precious stone from the volcano site.

  Momentarily distracted by the crystal blue water, Ryan had gazed longingly at the boats docked at the pier. Lifting her face toward the sun, she’d felt warm, fresh air caress her skin as they admired the beautiful blue sky and ocean. Taking an appraising peek at Keir, she’d wondered if he might be persuaded to rent a boat so they could cruise the waters.

  Now they were back in the downtown area, strolling along while occasionally stopping at a shop window to admire the merchant’s wares. Ryan sighed contentedly. Keir had promised her a dream vacation, and from the minute they’d stepped off the plane, he’d delivered.

  Two more days were left on this vacation, and she wanted to do a little shopping before they returned to the big island. Maui, with its rows of shops and street vendors, seemed the perfect place to pick up something for everyone. There were still a few items needed for her family and Keir’s. T-shirts would work for her family.

  Adam and Emily were a different matter. Unfortunately, Keir’s children required spectacular presents. Glancing at the stores ahead of them, Ryan felt confident she’d find the appropriate gifts at the Warner Brothers store. Some trinkets the kids wanted that their parents hadn’t purchased for them.

  Ryan also wanted to buy something special for Glo. The unselfish way her boss had rearranged the shooting schedule deserved a special treasure.

  She slowed and then halted outside a small jewelry store. Ryan studied the expensive pieces in the windows before coming to a decision. “I’m going in here. Do you want to come with me?” she asked Keir.

  With a mock scowl on his face, Keir teased, “I don’t know. A jewelry store is a mighty dangerous place. What are you planning to do in there?”

  “I’m not going to use your money. I’ve got credit cards.”

  “Good,” he teased. “I was worried.”

  “Ha. Ha. You are so funny. Really, I want to pick up something for Glo.”

  Now Keir’s forehead crinkled into a frown. “Glo? Why?”

  “She understood our dilemma and put forth the effort to help so we didn’t have to change our plans.” Ryan laid a hand on his cotton-covered chest. “I want to do something nice to show her how much I appreciate her help.”

  “That’s not necessary. That’s part of her job,” he retorted, shoving his hands into the pockets of his shorts.

  “Well Mr. Slave Driver, I think it’s important. And I’m going to.”

  “Why don’t you buy something for yourself? I don’t think you have to waste good cash on Glo. She was doing what she was hired to do.”

  “Are you coming in with me? Or are you going to wait out here?”

  Snarling, Keir followed her into the store. “I don’t believe this is necessary. Spend your money on yourself.”

  Ryan ignored him while she selected a gold bracelet with intricate hieroglyphs etched into the gold. She added Glo’s name to the inside of the piece of jewelry.

  Keir didn’t know about the tension between Ryan and Glo. Truly, she didn’t want him to know.
But, Glo made this trip possible and Ryan had decided to take Glo’s change of heart as a good omen. Ryan believed it was her turn to make their work environment comfortable.

  After purchasing the bracelet, they made their way down the street, stopping to check out several stores. Ryan picked up several T-shirts with palm trees and the word “Maui” written in glittery multicolored letters. On a whim, she added T-shirts for herself, Keir, Adam, and Emily to the stack.

  Her mission wasn’t complete. Adam and Emily still needed their wow presents and for that she planned to stop at the Warner Brothers or Disney Stores.

  They reached the Disney store first. When she stepped into the store, Ryan immediately felt like a kid again. All the glitter and music, plus the videos of old Walt Disney classics, tickled her.

  A short search uncovered the perfect presents.

  After lunch, they stood on the sidewalk trying to decide what to do next. Ryan leaned close and gave Keir a quick peck on the lips.

  Surprised, he tilted his head to the side and smiled at her. “Why did you do that? Not that I’m complaining, but it was unexpected.”

  “For being so good to me, and for this wonderful vacation.” Grinning broadly, she added, “For understanding a woman’s need to shop.”

  Keir mocked her remorsefully. “Those are the trials of being involved with a beautiful, sexy woman. Besides, everything has benefits.”

  “Benefits?” she asked, with a lift to her voice.

  “Mm-hmm. How grateful are you?”

  “Very.”

  “Good. How about we head back to the hotel and you can show me.”

  “Aren’t you the subtle one?”

  “No. But that’s okay.”

  Keir swiped the key card through the slot and waited for the green light to flash. He opened the door and slowly danced Ryan into the suite. The door automatically shut behind them. Bathed in semidarkness, Keir and Ryan entered the living room.

  They’d shared a meal at the Sheraton’s five-star restaurant, followed by dancing in the nightclub. With an arm wrapped around her waist, he’d then led her from the hotel, and they’d strolled along the beach, enjoying the romantic evening, complete with a full moon.

  “So far you get all As,” she complimented once they were in the living room. “What’s your plan for the rest of the evening?”

  Hands on Ryan’s hips, Keir pulled her against him. She felt his long, hardened flesh against her stomach. His hot breath brushed against her skin as he whispered in her ear. “How about I escort you into the bedroom, and we spend the rest of the night making love?”

  The suggestions sent her spirits soaring as a ripple of excitement surged through her. Yes, making love was exactly what she wanted to do. Grinning, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Good call.”

  Keir lifted her into his arms and strode through the suite to the bedroom. Her body melted against his. He set her on her feet in the center of the bedroom.

  “I’m all yours,” she whispered.

  “I hope so.” He dropped to his knees and lifted one delicate foot, caressing her ankle as he removed her sandal. “Here, let me help you.”

  Ryan rested her hands on his shoulder, balancing on one foot. Shivers of delight followed when he kissed her ankle and sucked on her toes. Ryan thought she would faint from pleasure.

  After slipping the sandals off her feet, he rose and hooked his fingers under the spaghetti straps of her top, slowly drawing them across her shoulders, down her arms, and off her body. The sheer top hung loosely around her breasts, offering Keir a delightful display of her round flesh. He pulled it off her body and removed her skirt.

  Keir turned her into his arms as his lips closed hungrily over hers. Ryan tasted a hint of the wine they’d shared at dinner. He broke the kiss as his lips sought the curve of her neck, kissing the pulsing beat at the base of her throat.

  His lips followed the path of his finger, and she squirmed, needing more of him. Keir’s touch was light and painfully sweet.

  Moaning, Ryan gave herself freely to the passion of his possession. Another kiss sent the pit of her belly into a wild swirl.

  She shut her eyes, riding out the series of sensations his touch evoked. His lips started with a taut brown nipple, explored her soft caramel flesh, switching breasts as he gave each a quick lick. He caught the warm globes in his hands, circling the nipples with his fingers and added his tongue to one breast and then the other. A fire raged within her.

  His hands slid across her silken belly. His busy fingers slid the silk thong aside as his thumb rubbed the throbbing nub between her legs. He palmed her mound. His fingers separated the springy curls and found her nub, rubbing the sensitive flesh. Ryan whimpered.

  His finger flicked back and forth across her flesh. The pleasure was so intense. She matched his rhythm, pushing herself hard against his probing fingers.

  Moments later Keir dropped to his knees in front of her, pushing the scrap of fabric off her body. Ryan gasped, arching her body hard against his thumb. His expert touch sent her to even higher levels of ecstasy. Keir replaced his thumb with his mouth, licking and sucking at her until she thought she would die from the pleasure.

  Her back arched and she moaned as he sucked harder. Unable to control herself, Ryan’s thighs shook and she cried out, trembling against his mouth, exploding in a downpour of fiery sensations. Climaxing, she went limp. Unable to stand, she dropped into a puddle like a cooked noodle.

  Keir caught her and rose to his feet, swinging her into the circle of his arms. He crossed the room and placed her in the center of the bed. Without wasting a precious moment, he stripped off his clothes, added a condom to his engorged sex before laying down next to her, pulling her back into his arms for another searing kiss.

  She tasted herself on his lips, finding the experience unique and exciting.

  Without additional foreplay, he thrust into her slick, wet passage. Her breath came in long, surrendering moans as her hips rose to meet his. Together, they found the right tempo and soared higher.

  Ryan couldn’t control her cries of delight. Her body trembled against his, taking him as far into her as possible. Waves of ecstasy throbbed through her as she shattered into a million pieces. Keir climaxed a split second later. Ryan held him close until the tremors subsided.

  Spent, they lay together, wrapped in each other’s arms. Ryan was the first to speak. “Thank you.”

  He chuckled. “Thank you?”

  “For tonight. For every night we’ve been here.” Ryan snuggled close to him as their legs became intertwined.

  Keir faced her. Winking down at her, he brushed a hand across her breast and then moved lower, fondling the wet curls protecting her opening. Her nipple immediately responded to the caress. “We’re not done yet. Didn’t we say something about anytime, anywhere?”

  Chapter 15

  The day following their return to California was busy. Ryan spent the morning emptying her suitcases and doing her laundry. Wednesday marked her return to work, and she wanted her home in order before she set off to the studio. As she rinsed and put the last glass in the dishwasher, the phone rang. She picked up the receiver on the third ring. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Ry,” Keir greeted.

  Happiness spiked inside Ryan. She loved hearing from him. Smiling, she answered softly, “Hey.”

  “You busy?”

  She glanced around her kitchen and answered, “No. Why?”

  “The kids and I are out taking care of some stuff, and I wanted to see you. Is it okay for us to drop by?”

  A soft gasp of surprise escaped Ryan’s lips as she listened. Glancing down at her dust-covered T-shirt and stained denims, she wondered cynically, What can I say? No, I’m cleaning my house. I look like hell. Maybe another time. That would really spread the love between them. Caught like a rat in a trap, Ryan responded, “Sure.”

  “Great! Thanks, sweetheart. We’ll be at your place in thirty minutes.”

  After a quiet good-bye,
Ryan hung up the phone and moved across the kitchen to the refrigerator. What did she have to serve to kids? She had one half hour to come up with some sort of refreshment and make herself look presentable. Since the kids weren’t her best friends, Ryan wanted this visit to go better than their last meeting. She hoped they had finally warmed to the idea of their father having a friend.

  Since the trip to Hawaii, Ryan had come to realize how much her relationship with Keir meant to her. Emily and Adam were part of the package. Being involved with Keir meant having a relationship with his children and maybe even his ex-wife.

  Her mother had always preached to her girls, “When you take the man, you take the family.” When she chose Keir, she’d agreed to the complete deal, whether she wanted it or not. Although she felt certain her relationship with Keir didn’t hinge on whether his kids liked her, things would be easier if they got along. Determined to build a link between herself, Adam, and Emily, she began to plan their visit.

  The doorbell rang as Ryan snapped the dishwasher door shut and started it. She emerged from the kitchen with a tray of goodies. Dressed in a clean short-sleeve top and violet shorts, she hurried to the front entrance. With a smile planted on her face, Ryan opened the door and greeted her guests. She welcomed Keir with a soft kiss on the lips, while his children tolerated quick hugs.

  “Hi, Adam,” Ryan said, noting his blue and white T-shirt with RAPTORS printed in blue letters and denim pants. The princess had on a pink dress with the face of Dora the Explorer on the bodice. “Emily, you look so cute. I love your dress. Come on in.”

  Because their father stood at their side, the boy and girl smiled pleasantly.

  “Come on in, ” Ryan repeated, leading the way to the living room and waving a hand at the tray sitting on the coffee table. “Have a seat. I have sliced fruit, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and chocolate chip cookies for you guys. Help yourself. Keir, I thought you might appreciate something a bit different. How about a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll?”